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The future looks bright

In the world of hybrid cars, there is Toyota and everybody else when it comes to sales. So, how can I spin this story for 2009 sales?

Well, Ford almost passed Honda as the number 2 seller of hybrid cars. Ford, thanks to the Fusion hybrid, sold 33,502 total hybrids in 2009.

Nonetheless, that wasn’t enough to catch Honda. Despite seriously declining Civic hybrid sales, the Insight was able to help Honda sell 35,691 units.

But that’s just chump change compared to Toyota.

Toyota sold 195,545 hybrids in the US in 2009, largely led by 139,682 Prius hybrid sales. Still, even without the Prius, Toyota still sold significantly more hybrids than did either Ford or Honda.

Expanding the Prius family

This year Toyota produced about 500,000 hybrid cars worldwide.

In 2011, Toyota plans to lift its annual production to 1 million hybrids per year.

To achieve this new output, Toyota is currently expanding its production into other countries, such as China and Australia. Likewise, at least one new dedicated hybrid is expected to enter production by 2011, along the path to at least 8 new hybrids over the next three years.

Would you buy your car again?

Every year Consumer Reports asks its subscribers if they would buy their car again.

Pretty much every year, the Toyota Prius is one of the top ‘buy again’ vehicles, as it was again this year, coming in at number 5. But the Prius wasn’t the top hybrid on this year’s list.

Coming in at number 2 was the Ford Fusion hybrid.

Perhaps that helps explain why the Prius and the Fusion hybrid are the top two selling hybrid cars in the US?